Mesh Aquarium top materials help...

soccerbag · Dec 19, 2011

Good morning all. It's time to put a lid on my display as I'm having some "jumping" issues. Does anyone have a link to the instructions? I looked for them here but am quite impatient and am hoping someone may have it bookmarked.

Also, it sounds like the 1/4" square opening polypropylene mesh is the best material to use. Where are you guys finding this? I'm guessing you have to buy a larger roll in bulk and that is fine, I just want to make sure I am using reef safe materials. Is the screen frame plastic or metal. It will be a fun DIY project but need some assistance getting started.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

-Logzor · Dec 19, 2011

Following and also interested, lost almost my entire recent fish order to fish jumping. Also rimless tank...

Craig, I've been thinking something with an acrylic frame that is inset within the aquarium, so it's flush with the top. It would need some sort of catch so it wouldn't fall into the aquarium though.

BlueHeaven · Dec 19, 2011

I made one just like in this link, but I used the black mesh from Home Depot. It's in the garden area. It's called bird netting. cheaper than what this guy's selling for $.75 square foot.
Aquarium Overload-Clear Mesh Tops DIY

soccerbag · Dec 19, 2011

That's where I'm running into trouble as I have a rimless tank with no inside lip. I think I will have to overhang the top but 1/4 - 1/2" in each side in order to ensure it does not fall into the tank. Velcro or something similar between the rim and the top may also work to hold the top on. It will take away from the open top design but I would rather keep fish in the tank.

Ideally, I would have a normal tank with black trim at the top with a "lip" to hold the top. These lids look best in that scenario. But I have don't have that type of tank. Bulk Reef supply has the mesh netting but the sheets are smaller than what I need. Will likely have to purchase an industrial roll and make it from that. The things we do for fish....lol.

soccerbag · Dec 19, 2011

BlueHeaven said:
I made one just like in this link, but I used the black mesh from Home Depot. It's in the garden area. It's called bird netting. cheaper than what this guy's selling for $.75 square foot.
Aquarium Overload-Clear Mesh Tops DIY

Thanks Blue. Was just looking at this link. Is the bird netting you used 1/2" or 1/4" square opening? I would love to get everything at HD or Lowe's but not sure I can. Do you recall how large the bird netting roll was (dimension wise)? My aquarium is 33" spo I would need to roll to be at least that.

Dowtish · Dec 19, 2011

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/miscellaneous/miscellaneous-items/clear-1-4-screen-netting-7-x-3.htm

All the things you need can be bought under the Misc. section of BRS, but you can buy the corners and framing at Lowes or HD.

DIY screen top for aquariums - YouTube

soccerbag · Dec 19, 2011

Dowtish said:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/miscellaneous/miscellaneous-items/clear-1-4-screen-netting-7-x-3.htm

All the things you need can be bought under the Misc. section of BRS, but you can buy the corners and framing at Lowes or HD.

DIY screen top for aquariums - YouTube

Saw that video and thanks for posting. Unfortunately, they only sell pieces that are 30" wide and that doesn't help me as my tank is 33" wide. I will need a larger sheet and that is my dilemma.

gimmito · Dec 19, 2011

I used the BRS netting (which is a better material than the ones you find at HD or Lowes) over my 450. Since the netting is 30", I just made 3 seperate screens for ease of removal. I also bought 2 window screen kits (that included plastic corner inserts and spline) and a spline tool. I also used a dremel to cut the frame. The whole project took about an hour. Here's pics of the final product.

Acroholic · Dec 19, 2011

Here is the link for the mesh top DIY I posted on R2R:

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/eq...7-light-friendly-clear-mesh-screen-cover.html

soccerbag · Dec 19, 2011

gimmito said:
I used the BRS netting (which is a better material than the ones you find at HD or Lowes) over my 450. Since the netting is 30", I just made 3 seperate screens for ease of removal. I also bought 2 window screen kits (that included plastic corner inserts and spline) and a spline tool. I also used a dremel to cut the frame. The whole project took about an hour. There's pics on my build thread if you would like to see the final product.

Thanks for the response. That is likely what I will have to do. While it's not ideal, it will make it easier to remove whichever one I need to for tank maintenance. Thanks.

btkrausen · Dec 19, 2011

I made a cover for my rimless by using square acrylic tubing. I cut them to length for the inside diameter of the tank and glued them into the rectangle. Then I made another one, put the clear mesh in between, and clamped and glued together. I used small tabs around the top to rest on the top of the glass. It worked out perfectly and looked pretty good to boot.

soccerbag · Dec 19, 2011

Any pics you can share. Sounds interesting but I'm having trouble visualizing it...lol.

-Logzor · Dec 19, 2011

btkrausen said:
I made a cover for my rimless by using square acrylic tubing. I cut them to length for the inside diameter of the tank and glued them into the rectangle. Then I made another one, put the clear mesh in between, and clamped and glued together. I used small tabs around the top to rest on the top of the glass. It worked out perfectly and looked pretty good to boot.

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing, would love to see pics.

soccerbag · Dec 19, 2011

Acroholic said:
Here is the link for the mesh top DIY I posted on R2R:

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/eq...7-light-friendly-clear-mesh-screen-cover.html

Thanks so much Acro. Love the thread and the instructions. I appreciate the link!!!

btkrausen · Dec 19, 2011

soccerbag said:
Any pics you can share. Sounds interesting but I'm having trouble visualizing it...lol.

-Logzor said:
That's exactly what I was thinking of doing, would love to see pics.

Luckily I have multiple Photobucket accounts and keep random pics like this on there, haha. Enjoy:

btkrausen · Dec 19, 2011

You can see on the pics how I created little tabs on the corners and middle to rest on. The second pic shows the acrylic about an inch down and then the water level down a bit further.

Mike&Terry · Dec 19, 2011

Craig, we went with the BRS clear mesh as it allows more light to penetrate than the black. We made 3 sections for ours as well.

Acropora52 · Dec 19, 2011

Craig,

Hope the trip was good. I actually had Miracles put in small starfire strips in the corners and front and mounted 2 lids on there. They are flush with the top. I used the 4 ft kits from Lowes and got some mesh from Acroholic, who had some in bulk.

You could probably replicate this by getting some acrylic strips and mounting on the front. It won't be quite as clean but should look okay.

soccerbag · Dec 19, 2011

Thanks guys. For now, I am going to go with 3 screens. I have 2 of the 3 made (just waiting on the mesh material to complete). I have the 3rd one mostly completely but have hit a snag. All of you that have posted seem to have zero plumbing sticking out of the water. While that is quite nice, it is not what I have. I have to go around my overflow but the corner pieces that I got at Lowes only go in one direction. Do you guys know if they make corner pieces that allow you to make a 90 degree angle going either direction? I did not even think to look while at Lowes.

Roni, good to hear from you bud. I hope the tank is coming along nicely. I would be interested to see a pic of what you are describing. I'm a very visual person so it helps me to see it. I can make just about anything - as long as I have a pic! lol

btk, thanks for the pic. Where did you get your acrylic square tubing? Or did you just buy a clear sheet and rip it to the dimensions you needed it? How does it lift off to feed the fish?